Trombonist Josh Brown is one of only a handful of young players in the modern mainstream of jazz. His clean, tonic, inside-the-melody lines are meticulously phrased, swinging, and follow in the footsteps of previous giants. While not stretching parameters into pure improvised territory, Brown's solos are very concise and welcome to hear on an admittedly tricky instrument. Guitarist Randy Napoleon is also a young star, more experienced, and a great addition to this quartet. The standard repertoire is as carefully chosen as it is smartly played. Brown almost exclusively plays the melodies, from the upbeat bop versions of "Blue Room" and well-rendered rendition of the great Gigi Gryce tune "Nica's Tempo" with Napoleon's deft harmonic inserts, to the bossa nova arrangement of "Moon & Sand" or the nicely treated original of Brown's "The Lake Louise Waltz." Easy swing might be the operative during Duke Ellington's "The Feeling of Jazz" and the appropriate CD closer "I'll Be Seeing You," but the lack of urgency, challenge, and depth is hard to dismiss. Guitar and trombone combine with fluidity during the ballad "Day Dream," while Napoleon's "Street Steam" barely simmers in light swing, accented by the guitarist's lines and strummed chord choices. While not a groundbreaking effort, Brown proves to be a pleasing instrumentalist who does not bend or break convention, stays within the bar lines, and is clearly developing as a student learning how to play sophisticated music. Again, examine his solos -- they're actually very good -- and check his progress as a developing bandleader, sideman, and hopefully composer of authentic jazz in future seasons.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo